Hollow.
Empty.
“I found it,” I get out on a whisper, so soft I almost think he didn’t hear me, but I should never doubt his Fae hearing. Of course he heard me.
“Good job,” he says back just as softly, pride lacing his words and bringing a small smile to my face. I didn’t think I was someone who enjoyed praise but the more he tells me I’m doing a good job, the more I preen under the words. “Now, let’s see what happens if you start to probe at the space.”
I return my focus inwards, to that blank space in the center of my chest, behind my sternum. I poke and prod, trying to see what it will do but each attempt meets a resistance the strength of a castle’s stone curtain wall. It’s my own personal defensivewall, protecting the magic that lies dormant within. Except not even I can penetrate the defenses.
I don’t know how much time passes of me throwing all my thought and focus into that hollow space before Bastian’s hand lands gently over mine. “I think that’s enough for this evening.” He gives me a sympathetic smile that raises my hackles. I know he means well, but I don’t need his pity. It’s only then as I pull my hand from his and run it across my forehead that I realize the sweat beaded across my brow. I didn’t even realize it was taking me that much effort to attempt to break through. “It’s not something we’ll be able to do in one night, otherwise you wouldn’t have been hidden so well for so long,” he offers in an attempt to ease my anxious thoughts from drifting back in.
“Do you—” I cut myself off and shake the thought from my head.
He tilts his head. “Do I what?”
“Forget about it,” I say as I push up to stand, brushing the dirt and stray blades of grass from my palms on my pants.
His hand circles my wrist before I can take a step away. “Talk to me,staellara.”
“Ever going to tell me what that means?” I ask, trying to shift the conversation.
“Maybe. If you tell me whatever it was you were about to ask me,” he challenges.
I narrow my eyes in a halfhearted glare. He matches my expression until we’re glaring at each other, my head tilted back to be able to meet his eyes and feeling utterly ridiculous for it. I huff a sigh and roll my eyes. “Fine. I was going to ask if you thought I’d ever be able to break through the binding.”
His teasing glare drops immediately to one of a solemn understanding. “Of course I do.”
“But nothing I’ve been able to do so far has had any impact. Even the most minor of shifts.”
“You may not have had any meaningful changes at this moment, but you were able to locate it. I’d say that’s a big first step. Plus, the natural world always has a way of balancing things. It’s not natural that your magic has been bound in this way, against your will. Keep trying. Between your attempts and the balance of things, you’re bound to break through. I know it.”
I sigh. “Okay, I’ll keep trying,” I say, a hesitant determination steeling my words.
“That’s my girl.”
I know he doesn’t actually mean to claim me ashisgirl, but the words send a shiver through me nonetheless at how much I like the sound of them.
